Conduct short research projects to answer a question (including a self-generated question), drawing on several sources and generating additional related, focused questions that allow for multiple avenues of exploration.

Gather relevant information from multiple print and digital sources, using search terms effectively; assess the credibility and accuracy of each source; and quote or paraphrase the data and conclusions of others while avoiding plagiarism and following a standard format for citation.

Introduction

You are now the proud parent of an element baby! Congratulations on your new responsibility. Being a parent can be tough...you really need to understand your element baby, so that you know how to take care of it. Is your baby radioactive? Should you be wearing a protective suit? Is your baby a gas at room temperature? Maybe it needs to be kept in a special container, so it doesn't get away! Maybe your baby is highly reactive! If you know, you can find out what other elements to keep your baby away from.

This lesson is packed full with opportunities to practice science skills such as developing models to describe unobservable mechanisms (SP2) and communication of scientific and technical information in writing and through oral presentations after critically reading scientific texts to obtain scientific information to describe evidence about the natural and designed worlds (SP8).

As students research an element of their choice, they synthesize information related to three performance expectations within the Matter and Its Interactions Core Disciplinary Idea:

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.WHST.6-8.6 Use technology, including the Internet, to produce and publish writing and present the relationships between information and ideas clearly and efficiently.

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.WHST.6-8.7 Conduct short research projects to answer a question (including a self-generated question), drawing on several sources and generating additional related, focused questions that allow for multiple avenues of exploration.

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.WHST.6-8.8 Gather relevant information from multiple print and digital sources, using search terms effectively; assess the credibility and accuracy of each source; and quote or paraphrase the data and conclusions of others while avoiding plagiarism and following a standard format for citation.

This project is a research-based inquiry investigation including multiple lessons taught over the span of 1 to 2 weeks. To help manage the magnitude of this project, you will find the project split into 3 parts.

Part 1 includes the ENGAGE and EXPLORE components of the lesson; Time: 4 or more 50-minute lessons or equivalent block periods.

Part 2 includes the EXPLAIN components of this lesson; Time: 3-5 50-minute lessons or equivalent block periods.

Part 3 (this lesson) includes the EXTEND and EVALUATE components of the lesson; Time: 1-2 50-minute lessons or equivalent block periods.

Extend

The EXTEND stage allows students to apply new knowledge to a novel situation. The novel situation in this case is for students to choose a creative way to demonstrate their new learning about their element. A few options include:

2) Choose a lesser-known element. This is a natural extension for the curious-minded as it is more difficult to find information during the research process and the information tends to be more technical due to the unknown nature of these elements.

3) Replace any side of the cube with a more in-depth topic of your choice.

4) Make a second cube or pyramid showing additional information about the element.

Evaluate

The EVALUATION stage is for both students and teachers to determine how much learning and understanding has taken place. There are two assessment activities associated with this project:

1) Students use the Adopt an Element Project Rubric to progress through a self assessment exercise for their work. Using the rubric on their Adopt an Element Project Student Instructions, students evaluate their projects for Written Expression; Scientific Understanding; Mechanics, Appearance and Creativity; and Timeliness and Completion. Using this rubric as a guide, students receive feedback from the teacher as well.